Reversible necktie and method for making same

ABSTRACT

A reversible necktie has two individual face fabrics united along the edges and then inverted to inturn the edge seams. The tie has flat, non-bulky edges pressed flat without creating a visible seam, or filler line. The filler is united to the face fabrics only at the neckband. The filler edges abut without entering between the edge seams so that its ends are free and unconnected. The free opposite ends of the filler are withdrawn from the tie, an expansible backer tool inserted, the edges pressed flat against the tool, the tool withdrawn and the filler reinserted.

United States Patent 1 Luceri [451 July 10,1973

REVERSIBLE NECKTIE AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME Inventor: JosephAl Ilu c eri, 8 Suncrest Road,

Andover, Mass.

[22] Filed: Apr. 2, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 130,636

[52] U.S. Cl. 2/146 [51] Int. Cl A431! 25/06 [58] Field of Search 2/146, 150, 153

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,185,615 l/l940 Willmoth 2/146 2,994,886 8/1961 Sharp 2/146 1,900,490 3/1933 Famous 2/146 1,945,206 l/l934 Stephens 2/146 3,378,854 4/1968 Limperos 2/146 Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Attorney-Pearson & Pearson [57] ABSTRACT A reversible necktie has two individual face fabrics united along the edges and then inverted to inturn the edge seams. The tie has flat, non-bulky edges pressed flat without creating a visible seam, or filler line. The

filler is united to the face fabrics only at the neckband. The filler edges abut without entering between the edge seams so that its ends are free and unconnected. The free opposite ends of the filler are withdrawn from the tie, an expansible backer tool inserted, the edges pressed flat against the tool, the tool withdrawn and the filler reinserted.

16 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PA NIEB M 4 3.744.051

smuurz INVENTOR. JOSEPH A. LUCERI ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUN] 0 I973 sum 2 or 2 VENTOR. JOSEPHA.LUCER| *P 2 I ATTORNEYS Pew REVERSIBLE NECKTIE AND METHOD FOR MAKINGSAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Four-in-hand, or other, neckties have long been proposed in which the opposite faces are of different fabrics and patterns, as exemplified in U. S. Pat. No. 3,264,654 to Woronowicz of Aug. 9, 1966, U. S. Pat. No. 2,834,967 to Taksa of May 20, 1958 and U. S. Pat. No. 1,945,206 to Stephens of Jan. 30, 1934. However, the incorporating of a liner into the inturned edge seams of the face pieces has been the teaching of the art and has resulted in bulky, thick edges which tend to show a press line when the tie is pressed.

In the Woronowicz patent, the edges are intumed an exaggerated amount in bellows fashion, which creates a fan-fold, or bellows, edge rather than a conventional tie edge. In the Taksa patent, the liner is included between the intumed edges full length of the wide end portion and stitched in that position so that the edges are six layers thick and therefore bulky and difficult to press flat. In the Stephens patent, the liner is also included within the edge seams for the full length of the tie and stitched in place, even including the neckband portion of the liner, so that, like Taksa, the edges are six layers thick and the opposite ends of the liner are captive rather than free.

In conventional ties, the fabric is folded back upon itself along the edges with the seam along the center of the rear face, so that the filler edges may abut the inside of the fold lines and do not produce a crease, or press line, when the tie is pressed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the reversible necktie of my invention, the body and resilience of an interlining is retained despite the infolded united edge seams, which in the prior art have produced bulky edges and faintly visible seam lines in the final hot pressing of the tie.

Preferably the inturned edge seams of this invention are united by hot welding ultrasonically in juxtaposition to the selvedge so that no protruding selvedge fabric, or hem, results and the liner edges exactly fit, and abut, the intumed edge seams without connection thereto, whether ultrasonic welding or conventional sewn stitches are used. The opposite ends of the liner thus perform their function when in place but are withdrawable through an edge slit during the pressing operation. The neckband portion of the liner preferably includes a pair of integral, outwardly projecting tabs which are anchored between the edge seams during one unidirectional, continuous pass of the uniting apparatus around the tie, whether ultrasonic or stitching.

Unlike the prior art in which the liner is stitched in place within the intumed edge seams, in this invention the liner is anchored only at the neckband and an edge slit permits the liner to be withdrawn, a backer tool inserted, the tie edges pressed flat, the tool withdrawn, and the tiller re-inserted. A fabric label may then be inserted in the slit to project therefrom, and the slit closed by the uniting means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reversible necktie of the invention, with the face fabrics front to front, and the liner tabs anchored by the edge uniting means;

FIG. 2 is an end view in section on line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an end view in section on line 33 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an end view, similar to FIG. 2, showing the tie inverted;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the tie inverted;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the tie being inverted by the gripping tool through the edge slit;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the filler ends withdrawn through the edge slit while the inverted tie is edge-pressed;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the tiller ends being reinserted, after the edge pressing step;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the ultrasonic, heat welding of thermoplastic fabric close to the selvedge and with no hem;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the filler edges closely abutting the intumed, welded edge seams;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a preferred form of gripping tool;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a preferred form of the pivotally expansible backer tool of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment in which the tie is seamed without a filler or liner and provided with two edge slits;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing the unlined tie being inverted through one of the two edge slits;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the tool insertion and edge-pressing step;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the unattached filler being inserted by the gripper tool through an edge slit; and

FIG. 17 is a view showing the filler in position and attached to the tie in the neckband region at the openings formed by the two edge slits.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawing, the reversible necktie 20 of the invention may be of the four-in-hand, or any other desired type, and is formed of two individual, necktie shaped fabrics 21 and 22, which preferably are of different patterns. The tie-shaped fabric pieces 21 and 22 are preferably of identical, predetermined dimensions and are superposed front, face or right side 23 flatwise on front, face or right side 24, as shown in FIG. 1. A substantially continuous, preferably unidirectional, single line of joinder 25 is then applied substantially entirely around the peripheral edges from one end 26 through the neckband portion 27 to the other end 28 in a single pass.

The line of joinder 25 is formed by uniting means 30, which may be conventional sewn stitches 31 with thread 32, or may be what is termed weld stitching or seam welding by heating techniques, such as ultrasonic, for fabrics containing thermo-plastic type fibers as shown at 33 and 34 in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The conventional, sewn, or stitched edge seams 35 and 36 of necktie 20 shown in FIGS. l-8 necessarily have an excess portion or hem as at 37, since the stitching cannot be in juxtaposition to the selvedges 38 without danger of raveling.

The continuous line of joinder 25 preferably starts at point 40 in neckband region 27 and terminates at point 41 in that region, thereby leaving an opening, or edge slit, 42, through which the tie 20 is inverted, as shown in FIG. 6.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-8, the liner 44 is cut from still another fabric 45 in generally tie-shaped configuration, or outline, but with predetermined dimensions slightly smaller, at least in width, than the corresponding dimensions of the tie-shaped pieces 21 and 22. Liner 44 includes a pair of integral, outwardlyprojecting, oppositely-disposed tabs 46 and 47 in the neckband portion 48, so that when laid flatwise, in superposition, on fabric 21, the tabs 46 and 47 are aligned with the edge seams 35 and/or 36 and anchored thereto by the uniting means 30 in its single pass around the periphery of the tie from point 40 to point 41. It should be noted, however, that the opposite ends 50 and 51 of liner 44 are not incorporated into the edge seams 35 and 36 and are not anchored by the line of joinder 25, so that they are free to move.

As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the selvedge 52 and 53 of ends 50 and 51 of liner 44 are of such predetermined width apart that they closely fit within the space 54 between the inturned, infolded edge seams 35 and 36 and abut the same, while free of connection therewith. The space 54 is also defined by the backs 55 and 56 of pieces 21 and 22, and the liner and tie fabrics are free of connection in this space.

When the neckband portion 48 of liner 44 has been anchored to the corresponding portion 27 of the tieshaped pieces 21 and 22 by the uniting means 30 and tabs 46 and 47, or by cross-stitching 58 in the absence of tabs, the ends 26 and 28 are inverted by the jaws 61 of gripper tool 62 through the edge slit 42 to invert the tie, bring the faces 23 and 24 to the outside and inturn the edge seams 35 and 36, as shown in FIG. 6. The tie then assumes the appearance of FIGS. 4 and with the liner 44 inside the tie.

As shown in FIG. 7, the next step is the withdrawal of the free ends 50 and 51 of liner 44 through edge slit 42 by gripper tool 62 and the insertion of the pivotally connected expansible edge shaping tool 63, in contracted condition through slit 42. Tool 63 is then expanded by handles 64 and 65 to serve as a backer against the edge seams 35 and 36, while the tie edges are pressed by the hot iron 66. When the infolded, inturned edges have been pressed flat, the tool 63 is again contracted and withdrawn through slit 42, whereupon the ends 50 and 51 of filler 44 are reinserted by the gripper tool 62, the tool 62 withdrawn and the slit 42 closed by stitches 67 as shown in FIG. 17 in dotted lines.

A fabric label 70 may be stitched between the edge seams 35 and 36 to protrude inwardly before inversion and protrude outwardly after inversion, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The gripper tool 62, as shown in FIG. 11, includes the hollow handle 72, a pair of spring pressed jaws 73 and 74 having mating serrations 75 and a pull wire 76 passing through the handle 72 for closing the jaws to grip the fabric.

The edge shaping tool 63 includes the out-turned handles 64 and 65 at one end of a pair of elongated bars 77 and 78 pivoted to each other at 79 and a pair of 6 shorter bars 80 and 81 pivoted at 82 and 83 to the other ends of bars 77 and 73 and to each other at 84. The

bars 77, 78, 80 and 81 are of thin sheet material, such as metal, or plastic, to create a thin, rigid backer surface within the seams and folds of the edges of the tie and eliminate any visible seam lines.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 13-16, wherein the tie-shaped fabrics 21 and 22 are peripherally joined by uniting means 30 in the form of a peripheral stitch line 34 with two edge slits, 142 and 143 similar to slit 42 in FIGS. 6-8 and no liner. The resulting front to front tie is inverted through either of the two edge slits, 142 or 143, to bring the front faces to the outside, whereupon the tool 63 is inserted, the tie edge-pressed and the tool 63 withdrawn. The filler 44 is then inserted through either of the edge slits 142 or 143 by tool 62 to position the ends 50 and 51 in the space 54 and the tabs 46 and 47 symmetrically positioned within the space between both edge slits, and anchored by the stitches 67 which also close both edge slits, 142 and 143.

What is claimed is:

1. A reversible necktie comprising:

a pair of individual, back-to-back, necktie-shaped, fabrics having exterior faces of different patterns, said fabrics having inturned, peripheral edges united to each other from one end of said fabrics, through a neckband portion, to the other end thereof, to outline an unconnected space between said edges the opposite ends of said necktie being so united to form closed ends thereon;

a liner of still another fabric, substantially filling said space, but unconnected to said fabrics, said liner having a neckband portion, and uniting means, in said neckband portions joining said liner to said face pieces, but the other portions of said liner remaining free of connection thereto; whereby bulkiness along said peripheral edges is eliminated. 2. A reversible necktie as specified in claim 1, wherein;

said uniting means is stitching extending diagonally across the neckband portion of said liner and face pieces and the edges of said liner abut the inturned peripheral edges of said face pieces without enterin therebetween. 3. A reversible necktie as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said liner includes at least one integral tab projecting from the neckband portion thereof, said tab being aligned with the inturned edge seams on at least one side edge of said face pieces and connected -thereto by a single line of joinder extending continuously substantially around the periphery of said tie. 4. A reversible necktie as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said liner includes a pair of integral oppositely disposed tabs projecting therefrom in the neckband portion thereof, and said face pieces are united by a continuous line of joinder entirely around the periphery thereof, said line including said tabs, to anchor said liner, but not including any other part of said liner. 5. A reversible necktie as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said inturned peripheral edges are united by a line of joinder in close juxtaposition with the selvedge of said fabrics, so as to present a sewn seam effect on the outside of said necktie but to present substantially no excess fabric on the inside selvedge,

thereby creating the maximum possible internal said unconnected space between said inturned peripheral edges of said fabrics to permit insertion of the widest possible liner; and thereby eliminating seam impressions on the surface of said fabrics resulting from hot pressing.

6. A reversible necktie as specified in claim 1, plus:

a fabric label, located in the neckband area of said tie, said label projecting from between the inturned edge seams on one side of said tie and anchored between said united inturned peripheral edges by said uniting means,

whereby said label is concealed by the collar of the wearer when worn.

7. A reversible necktie comprising:

a pair of full length, tie-shaped face pieces of identical dimensions, but of different fabric, having inturned edge seams,

a liner, of still another fabric, substantially identical in outline to said tie-shaped pieces but of predetermined reduced dimensions, said liner having a pair of integral, oppositely disposed projecting tabs in the neckband portion thereof,

and uniting means connecting said inturned edge seams substantially entirely around said face pieces and connecting said tabs to said face pieces,

the opposite ends of said liner being independent of connection to said face pieces but filling the space between said united inturned edge seams to thereby reduce bulkiness along saidedge seams. 8. The method of making a reversible necktie from a pair of individual, tie-shaped pieces of different fabric and-a tie-shaped liner fabric, said method comprising the steps of:

uniting said tie-shaped pieces to each other, front to front, around the peripheral edges thereof, including uniting the opposite ends but leaving an edge opening in the neckband portion and then inverting said united pieces through said edge opening in the neck band portion to inturn the resulting edge seams while bringing said fronts to the outside, forming said liner in an outline of slightly reduced dimensions relative to the dimensions of said tieshaped pieces, to abut, but not enter between said inturned edge seams, fitting said liner into the space between said inturned edge seams to lie flatwise therewithin and abut said seams but free of connection thereto, and uniting said liner within said tie-shaped pieces in the neckband area thereof, but leaving the remainder of said liner free of connection to said pieces. 9. A method as specified in claim 8, wherein: said step of fitting said liner into said space and uniting the same to said pieces is accomplished prior to said inversion step. 10. A method as specified in claim 8, wherein: said step of uniting said liner to said pieces in the neckband area is accomplished, prior to said inversion step, and includes the step of forming integral projections on said liner and uniting said projections simultaneously with the uniting of the peripheral edges of said pieces.

11. A method as specified in claim 8, wherein:

said step of uniting said edges of said pieces and uniting said liner to said pieces in the neckband area are accomplished by heat bonding, and

the step of uniting said edges of said pieces includes the step of positioning the line of joinder in close juxtaposition to the selvedge.

12. A method as specified in claim 8, plus the steps:

of pressing the inturned edges of said tie-shaped pieces to flatten the same, in the absence of said lining and prior to said step of fitting said lining into position.

13. The method of making a reversible four-in-hand necktie which comprises the steps of:

cutting two substantially identical tie-shaped fabrics of predetermined dimensions and superposing the same front to front;

edge seaming said fabrics, while front to front, substantially entirely therearound except for an inversion slit along said edge,

inverting said edge seamed fabrics through said inversion slit to create a space between the inturned edge seams of predetermined dimensions, pressing the exterior of said inturned edges to flatten the same and eliminate any bulkiness therein,

cutting a filler in an outline similar to the outline of said tie-shaped fabrics, but of predetermined reduced dimensions for fitting the space between said inturned edge seams, and abutting the same;

fitting said filler into said space, after said pressing step,

and uniting said filler to said tie-shaped fabrics, only in an area of the neckband portion thereof.

14. A method as specified in claim 13, wherein:

said pressing step is accomplished with a hot pressing iron and is accompanied by the insertion of a thin edged shaping and edging surface through said inversion slit to serve as a backer to said hot iron.

15. A method as specified in claim 13, wherein:

said filler fitting step includes the'steps of uniting said filler to said tie-shaped fabrics in the neckband portions thereof, prior to inversion, then withdrawing the opposite ends of said filler through said inversion slit prior to said pressing step, then reinserting the same through said slit after said pressing step and then closing said slit.

16. A method as specified in claim 13, wherein:

said pressing step is accompanied by the insertion of a thin edged shaping and edging surface through said inversion slit in compacted condition, then expanding the same to conform to the shape of said tie-shaped fabrics to serve as a backer plate inside said tie during said pressing step, and then compacting and withdrawing said surface through said inversion slit.

i I I? 

1. A reversible necktie comprising: a pair of individual, back-to-back, necktie-shaped, fabrics having exterior faces of different patterns, said fabrics having inturned, peripheral edges united to each other from one end of said fabriCs, through a neckband portion, to the other end thereof, to outline an unconnected space between said edges the opposite ends of said necktie being so united to form closed ends thereon; a liner of still another fabric, substantially filling said space, but unconnected to said fabrics, said liner having a neckband portion, and uniting means, in said neckband portions joining said liner to said face pieces, but the other portions of said liner remaining free of connection thereto; whereby bulkiness along said peripheral edges is eliminated.
 2. A reversible necktie as specified in claim 1, wherein; said uniting means is stitching extending diagonally across the neckband portion of said liner and face pieces and the edges of said liner abut the inturned peripheral edges of said face pieces without entering therebetween.
 3. A reversible necktie as specified in claim 1, wherein: said liner includes at least one integral tab projecting from the neckband portion thereof, said tab being aligned with the inturned edge seams on at least one side edge of said face pieces and connected thereto by a single line of joinder extending continuously substantially around the periphery of said tie.
 4. A reversible necktie as specified in claim 1, wherein: said liner includes a pair of integral oppositely disposed tabs projecting therefrom in the neckband portion thereof, and said face pieces are united by a continuous line of joinder entirely around the periphery thereof, said line including said tabs, to anchor said liner, but not including any other part of said liner.
 5. A reversible necktie as specified in claim 1, wherein: said inturned peripheral edges are united by a line of joinder in close juxtaposition with the selvedge of said fabrics, so as to present a sewn seam effect on the outside of said necktie but to present substantially no excess fabric on the inside selvedge, thereby creating the maximum possible internal said unconnected space between said inturned peripheral edges of said fabrics to permit insertion of the widest possible liner; and thereby eliminating seam impressions on the surface of said fabrics resulting from hot pressing.
 6. A reversible necktie as specified in claim 1, plus: a fabric label, located in the neckband area of said tie, said label projecting from between the inturned edge seams on one side of said tie and anchored between said united inturned peripheral edges by said uniting means, whereby said label is concealed by the collar of the wearer when worn.
 7. A reversible necktie comprising: a pair of full length, tie-shaped face pieces of identical dimensions, but of different fabric, having inturned edge seams, a liner, of still another fabric, substantially identical in outline to said tie-shaped pieces but of predetermined reduced dimensions, said liner having a pair of integral, oppositely disposed projecting tabs in the neckband portion thereof, and uniting means connecting said inturned edge seams substantially entirely around said face pieces and connecting said tabs to said face pieces, the opposite ends of said liner being independent of connection to said face pieces but filling the space between said united inturned edge seams to thereby reduce bulkiness along said edge seams.
 8. The method of making a reversible necktie from a pair of individual, tie-shaped pieces of different fabric and a tie-shaped liner fabric, said method comprising the steps of: uniting said tie-shaped pieces to each other, front to front, around the peripheral edges thereof, including uniting the opposite ends but leaving an edge opening in the neckband portion and then inverting said united pieces through said edge opening in the neck band portion to inturn the resulting edge seams while bringing said fronts to the outside, forming said liner in an outline of slightly reduced dimensions relative to the dimensions of said tie-shaped pieces, to abut, but nOt enter between said inturned edge seams, fitting said liner into the space between said inturned edge seams to lie flatwise therewithin and abut said seams but free of connection thereto, and uniting said liner within said tie-shaped pieces in the neckband area thereof, but leaving the remainder of said liner free of connection to said pieces.
 9. A method as specified in claim 8, wherein: said step of fitting said liner into said space and uniting the same to said pieces is accomplished prior to said inversion step.
 10. A method as specified in claim 8, wherein: said step of uniting said liner to said pieces in the neckband area is accomplished, prior to said inversion step, and includes the step of forming integral projections on said liner and uniting said projections simultaneously with the uniting of the peripheral edges of said pieces.
 11. A method as specified in claim 8, wherein: said step of uniting said edges of said pieces and uniting said liner to said pieces in the neckband area are accomplished by heat bonding, and the step of uniting said edges of said pieces includes the step of positioning the line of joinder in close juxtaposition to the selvedge.
 12. A method as specified in claim 8, plus the steps: of pressing the inturned edges of said tie-shaped pieces to flatten the same, in the absence of said lining and prior to said step of fitting said lining into position.
 13. The method of making a reversible four-in-hand necktie which comprises the steps of: cutting two substantially identical tie-shaped fabrics of predetermined dimensions and superposing the same front to front; edge seaming said fabrics, while front to front, substantially entirely therearound except for an inversion slit along said edge, inverting said edge seamed fabrics through said inversion slit to create a space between the inturned edge seams of predetermined dimensions, pressing the exterior of said inturned edges to flatten the same and eliminate any bulkiness therein, cutting a filler in an outline similar to the outline of said tie-shaped fabrics, but of predetermined reduced dimensions for fitting the space between said inturned edge seams, and abutting the same; fitting said filler into said space, after said pressing step, and uniting said filler to said tie-shaped fabrics, only in an area of the neckband portion thereof.
 14. A method as specified in claim 13, wherein: said pressing step is accomplished with a hot pressing iron and is accompanied by the insertion of a thin edged shaping and edging surface through said inversion slit to serve as a backer to said hot iron.
 15. A method as specified in claim 13, wherein: said filler fitting step includes the steps of uniting said filler to said tie-shaped fabrics in the neckband portions thereof, prior to inversion, then withdrawing the opposite ends of said filler through said inversion slit prior to said pressing step, then reinserting the same through said slit after said pressing step and then closing said slit.
 16. A method as specified in claim 13, wherein: said pressing step is accompanied by the insertion of a thin edged shaping and edging surface through said inversion slit in compacted condition, then expanding the same to conform to the shape of said tie-shaped fabrics to serve as a backer plate inside said tie during said pressing step, and then compacting and withdrawing said surface through said inversion slit. 